Sharing business blogging tips and social media marketing know-how with small business owners, coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs who want to maximise impact and minimise cost of their PR & marketing budgets. Plus coaching, tutoring and set-up services.

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June 18, 2010

So despite the note on the homepage for this blog, saying I no longer blog here, here I am posting again...

Do you ever feel like you are living someone else's life? Do you ever look back and wonder "What if I'd chosen a different path?" Perhaps you're deemed to be 'successful' and yet privately, you're unhappy and unfulfilled?

Yes? Well, listen up because this one's for you... As mentioned in my last post, I've been working on another project. I've finally created a very basic little video presentation explaining more, which if you're looking for a way to live your authentic life by creating a business around doing what you love and/or are interested in authentic marketing and personal branding, you should find well worth the 5 minutes it'll take you to view it. If nothing else, I hope it encourages you to at least start thinking about how you can create an alternative, heart inspired life for yourself.

March 04, 2010

I've been crazy busy over the last few weeks, working on various client projects AND 2 of my own. Typically, when I'm busy with client work, my own projects don't get much a look-in - an all too familiar issue for most self-employed people, too busy working IN our businesses, rather than ON them. Technically, I'm taking today and tomorrow off, but I really don't want to let another day slip by where I start a new post for this blog and then fail to finish and publish it PLUS I am so excited by these 2 projects that I am itching to share all the news. So...

Monday saw the launch the Authentic Marketing Party, a new podcast I'm producing together with the incredibly talented Online Marketing & Business Success Coach Victoria Player. I've not known Victoria for very long - and I've never actually met her 'in the flesh' - but working with her (virtually, of course) has been AMAZING. She is brilliant fun, unbelievably dynamic and really, really knows her onions.

I still can't quite believe that it was only 3 weeks ago (to the day)
that we first broached the idea of doing an Authentic Marketing
podcast together!!! In that time, we've created our authentic brand -
we are "the "Loose Women" of authentic marketing", a teaser
campaign, a Facebook fan page, a Twitter profile - @marketingparty,
a blogsite home (www.AuthenticMarketingParty.com)
and the first episode which went out on Monday and is listed on iTunes! I messed up the sound a bit on
the editing, so my voice is far too loud compared to Victoria's, but
I'll get better and as I said to one of our (Warning: gratuitous 'boast'
approaching) 100 Facebook fans (thank you!), imagine how
intimidating I'd be if I were perfect! [chuckle]

Right, I'm out of time again... so rather than 'Save Draft', I'm
going to publish this and post again as soon as I can about the other
thing... in the meantime, please do have a listen (it's only 15 mins long) and leave
your feedback/suggestions etc. on the blog. See you soon...

February 05, 2010

London - 17th February 2010 Nick Williams' Inspired Entrepreneurs' Club business partner, Niki Hignett, will be taking to the stage to de-construct the design principles behind their website which have enabled them to grow their database of prospects from 6,000 to nearly 20,000 names and e-mail addresses. Niki says "“You will leave this evening with a solid understanding of how to structure your website for maximum effectiveness, and a strategy for improving your results over time.” They are anticipating a sell-out and at the time of writing their are only 10 places remaining, so you probably want to book now.

Cardiff(ish) - 4th & 11th March 2010 Join me (Claire Raikes) for this 2 part 'hands on' workshop/course and discover how to simplyand painlessly create an online presence, establish your ‘personal brand’, build your ‘tribe’ and ultimately increase your income using the internet and social media – all without feeling like you’re ’selling’ or being pushy. This 'Plain English' course has been designed especially for you if you KNOW there are huge opportunities to market your services online, but find it all a bit daunting/confusing/scary. You just want someone to explain how it all works and show you what to do. Spaces are limited to ensure plenty of un-rushed, individual attention, so book nowfor this event too. Full information here.

October 27, 2009

Long time no blog eh? Actually, I have been blogging, just not here. I have in fact got a new blog, an entirely new site actually, and I'm really enjoying blogging there - primarily because I don''t have to limit myself to writing about business blogging over there. I'm free to write about all sorts of thing which fascinate and interest me - I feel free to be me. The authentic me. Check it out, but be warned, the real me may be a very different 'me' from the 'me' you think you thunk I was. :) It's at www.ClaireRaikes.com

I now find myself with 2 blogs to update - not at all part of the plan so let me explain how it's going to work... I am going to continue blogging here, on bloggng and social media for business but all of those posts will also appear on my main blog over there. So... if you follow this blog purely for the blogging and social media content, then sit tight and do nothing. If however, you come here because you get a good vibe off me, we like the same things, you like my style etc, then I suggest you subscribe to the other one where you'll have much variety!

So first post I'm re-appropriating from www.claireraikes.com is this one which I wrote earlier today. It's about a site called GratitudeLog.com. If you've not yet discovered it, it's a bit like Twitter, but instead of asking 'what are you doing?' it

March 10, 2009

One of the things that continually delights me about 'doing business online' is the rather more 'abundant' mindset which tends to go with it - compared with the 'scarcity' attitude so typical of 'old school', 'bricks and mortar' business where typically your competitors are 'The Enemy'. I used to watch what they were up to with derision or 'professional envy'. The thought behind that was something to do with there not being enough business to go round - hence 'scarcity'. Doing business online however, is a totally different ball game. Your competitors can be very useful to you in all sorts of ways, the most basic being 'watching and learning'.

Last week, I came across a guy on Twitter called TimboReid, who describes himself as "Dad. Marketing Ideas Guy. Podcaster. Blogger. Closet Rock Star." I can't remember now why I started to follow him, but follow him I did and it was what happened next that I want to share with you, because to my mind, it was a thing of business beauty...

In How to Promote Your TeleSeminars Using Joint Ventures, Karen will be sharing, "What you need to know about using other business’ databases so you can get more clients registered
for your own teleseminars."

December 04, 2008

I'm so excited!Last night, I emailed all my clients and mailing list subscribers announcing the new BusinessBlogAngel's Social Media Inner Circle. I wanted to give them a bit of head start before I blogged about it here, but since the Qualifying Calls start tomorrow, I can't wait any longer! Whether you're already using social media or not, this Social Media Marketing Intensive will deliver tangible results, slash your marketing budget and achieve an unparalleled 'ROI' to boot. Click on the image for the full lowdown.

December 01, 2008

Apologies that it's taken a while (there's lot's of other stuff going on which I'll tell you about later), but in the meantime, here are 3 more nuggets for you.

This time, they are all to do with Twitter itself, specifically how to find people to follow and attract more followers of your own...

1. Promote your Twitter Profile on your blog or website.

If you want to build your network, you need to let people know they can be a part of it. The following link was posted on the official Twitter blog a couple of weeks back now. It leads to French blogger Vincent Abry's blog and a selection of wonderful little graphics or buttons you can add to your blog or website.

October 18, 2008

Me: Ur experiment's pushed me to add 'subscribe by email' to [this blog] Not that there's owt new to read :)Joanna: Maybe the new subscription box will tempt you to blog something...?! Me: I have a lot of explaining to do - and lots of great stuff to share! But no idea where to start! Joanna: You could start with just that - where do you start when you've so much to share?Me: You're so wise! This'll sound like procrastination :) but I promise to post something by the end of the day!Joanna: I'm not wise Claire, but I have learned that writing what you know and where you're at is best way to go :-)

Well, technically, the end of the day happened over an hour ago. However, since I'm still up, fuzzy logic says the day's still going... ergo, I made it. So "where do you start when you've so much to share?"